A building firm was today accused of potentially putting youngsters at risk by installing an electric fence yards from a children's play area.

Travis Perkins builders' merchants erected the security fence and razor wire to keep thieves out of their premises.

But furious families who take their children to a play area opposite the site say it is only a matter of time before a child is electrocuted.

Council planning chiefs today said Travis Perkins had not been given permission to install the fence.

And representatives from Olly's Ocean play area, on Blyth Industrial Estate, have called for the fence to be removed. Andrew Wharton, centre manager at Olly's Ocean, said: "It's outrageous and security gone mad.

"They might want to stop people pinching things from their yard but what about the children?

"We have about 500 kids a day coming here and they have to walk past the electric fence."

Workmen at the builders' merchants began installing the 12 feet high fence last week and around half of it is already up, with fittings for the rest of it in place.

Small yellow signs warn of the danger, although they do not indicate what the voltage of the fence is.

No one from Travis Perkins was available for comment.

Mr Wharton added: "Apparently they had some stuff pinched from the yard and that's why they've done it. But surely they must have thought about the implications.

"A lot of the children coming here are from local estates and come by foot and the only way they can get to us is by walking within a couple of feet of this fence, it's absolutely ridiculous and going to extremes."

Blyth Valley Council were called in to investigate after Mr Wharton informed them what had happened. The council says Travis Perkins were wrong to put the fence up without planning permission and have advised them to put a stop to the work.

Health and safety officers are now expected to investigate.

Keith Felton, enforcement officer at Blyth Valley Council, said: "We have had a complaint about the fence.

"It has been examined and that showed it does require planning permission but we have no record of one.

"I have been in touch with the firm and asked them to submit a planning application and I would advise them to do nothing more regards installing the fence now."

One concerned parent is Susan Long, whose daughters Kayleigh, six, and Margaret, five, visit the play site nearly every day.

Susan, 29, of Blyth, said: "It's outrageous and I'm really worried about letting Kayleigh and Margaret walk past it. They have to walk right past it as there isn't a path on the other side of the road."